Photo by Belle White.
In an anticlimactic final meeting of the 2025–2026 term, the UVSS Board of Directors ratified board representatives for the next term, approved capital expenditures for kitchen equipment replacements, and appointed incoming Director of Finance Mariah Luzon to the Fee Reduction Appeals Committee ahead of her official start date as director.
Advocacy Group representatives
In this meeting, the board approved the five representatives for the Constituency Groups — the Pride Collective, Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM), Society for Students with a Disability (SSD), and Students of Colour Collective (SSD) — and the Native Students Union (NSU).
Those ratified are almost entirely returning representatives, with K’sana Wood Lynes-Ford returning as NSU Firekeeper, Jayce Kusardi returning as Pride representative, Cecilia Bulbrook returning as GEM representative, and Roven Brooks-Stephenson returning as SOCC representative.
Acorn Wasserman, who previously served as the SSD representative on the 2024–2025 term, will return on the 2026–2027 board, replacing current SSD representative Dacian Filipescu.
Main motions
The UVSS board voted to approve spending up to $6 000 to purchase multiple new compressors for different refrigeration units in the Health Food Bar (HFB), up to $1 200 to purchase a new compressor for another fridge in the Main Kitchen, and up to $6 500 for one new stand-up double-door cooler in the Grill.
The board also voted not to renew its membership with the Greater Victoria Acting Together (GVAT) board, but to “[remain] friends of GVAT,” being “open to future collaborations if they are aligned with the UVSS goals and values.”
According to the motion, the UVSS has historically been part of the GVAT board, and has paid a membership fee to be part of the organization.
The board also voted on two motions which were not initially on the agenda, but were amended to be included at the start of the meeting; the first was to appoint incoming Director of Finance and Operations Mariah Luzon to the Fee Reduction Appeals Committee prior to the beginning of her term, as that committee was overdue to meet, but could not meet quorum without Luzon.
Luzon’s appointment was required prior to her term beginning, the motion said, due to the vacancy on the committee left by former Interim Director of Finance and Operations Jonah Arnold’s resignation, which the board accepted on April 7, 2026.
The second motion added to the agenda was to approve changes to the NSU Constitution, which were voted on at their Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Both motions carried.
The meeting had no presentations or announcements, but did have one email motion which was passed, appointing Interim Director of Campaigns and Communications (and acting chair) Michael Caryk to the Health & Dental Appeals Committee, which also did not have a chair due to Arnold’s resignation.
According to the motion, the committee needed a chair so it could meet prior to the end of the semester “to ensure student appeals are finalized.”
Reports
During reports, Caryk noted preparing for the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) conference for the weekend of April 24–26, 2026. Caryk said he was working with incoming Director of Campaigns and Community Relations Tam Aljundi to “push” the $10 ferry rate and food security grant initiatives, and introducing Aljundi to other figures in the student movement.
Director of Events Lindsey Andrew delivered a brief report for the Outreach and University Relations portfolio, which has been vacant since February. Andrew reported the establishment of a working group for the Ombudsperson Advisory Committee and noted things were already in motion with that committee for when the incoming Director of Outreach and University Relations, Matthew Allen Curtis, takes office.
Caryk also delivered the report for Finance and Operations, as that position is currently vacant, and reiterated the passing of the motion earlier in the meeting to replace fridge components at the Grill, HFB, and Main Kitchen.
Director of Student Affairs Katie King reported working on “year-end stuff,” preparing for incoming Director Maddy Vanderhooft, finalizing dates for Clubs and Course Unions Council meetings, and finalizing cheque requisitions for clubs and course unions before the end of her term.
Andrew, reporting on her own portfolio, noted wrapping up “loose ends” and mentioned the UVSS’ final event of the year — Donation Station — on April 23, and preparing for the incoming Director of Events, Mohan Selvarajan.
Most other Committees and Councils and Advocacy Groups did not have anything major to report, with the exception of GEM, who mentioned the launch of their annual publication, the GEM Journal, the week before the meeting and early plans to create more opportunities for involvement next year.
SOCC reported passing their budget at a recent collective meeting.
The board then voted to move in-camera, bringing the meeting to an end.
